Happy Thanksgiving and the George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation

I think one of the greatest things about this time of year is how it makes us slow down a little bit and spend time with family and friends, remembering and counting our blessings. Thanksgiving provides us all with an opportunity to take stock of all that we are thankful for, of all the blessings that have come into our lives, and for all our loved ones – family and friends – who warm our hearts and make our lives brighter. I think Thanksgiving and Christmas this year are even more important because they can be beacons of light in a very dark and cold world. With the massive chaos swirling around the world right now, every news article brings with it reports of death, war, terrorism, and all the lowest depravities of Man. We need these beacons of hope and of light, we need reminders that it is never as dark as it seems; so remember your blessings, remember & be thankful for all that God gives us.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Below you will find the first Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by President George Washington that started our nation’s tradition and holiday of Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful speech that I always bring out to read every year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

I think it is a very good tradition to read this proclamation every year and be reminded the real reason for the Holiday. Of course having discussed the reason for the season the next step is how we celebrate the holiday – Delicious Food, Good Wine, and Excellent Company with the ones we love!